Stress is not always a bad thing. It can be the driver that pushes us on to achieve things, whether that is a qualification we have always wanted or finishing a unit assignment.

But just like stress in life, when stress over your studies become too much it can overcome you and lead to real problems.

Controlling stress means identifying what triggers it and what preventative measures can be taken to stop it engulfing your studies. Don’t let stress squeeze all of the enjoyment of the course you are completing.

As a leading provider of online courses, we have gathered many hints and tips over the years from our students and our tutors about how stress and studying can be controlled.

Here we give you five of the best ideas and tips.

ONE – Organisation

The first tip is to get organised. Being organised is more than just shuffling papers; it is about being proactive in managing every aspect of your studies.

Organising and planning study time, organising your work environment, organising materials and even keeping your desk or work area clean and clutter-free are just some of the tips students say help them to keep stress to a minimum.

TWO – Exercise and Fresh Air

When an assignment is due, it can be tempting to put head down and stop taking breaks so that you get the work done as quickly as possible.

But sometimes ‘less haste, less speed’ is the solution, because speed doesn’t mean you are producing your best work or are grasping the content of what you are learning.

As counter-intuitive as it seems, taking a walk in the fresh air or simply sitting outside for 20 minutes is ideal for gathering your thoughts and pushing stress back down to acceptable limits.

THREE – Distractions…

Distractions are annoying. Someone tapping away on a keyboard or someone clicking their pen can be the stressors that push us over the edge.

But here’s the thing – mindfulness experts and experts on Neuro-linguistic courses tell us that our attempts to block out these annoying habits and distractions can actually make us more stressed.

The solution is to tune into these distractions and you will be amazed at what happens! The distractions disappear.

In other words, stop working so hard at thinking about your distractions and how much you hate them. Accepting that they are there (and not becoming embroiled in hating them so much) actually loosens their grip over you. Try this method and let us know how it works for you.

FOUR – Talk

Studying for a qualification is a challenge. No one said it was going to be easy, but from what our students tell us, this is part of the learning journey.

Studying at home in your own time, whilst balancing family, work and life will see you find and hone new skills. Organisation is one key to successful study, and identifying problems and finding solutions is another.

But there are times when it can seem like just too much, and you will start to feel stressed. Talking to someone can help – you just need to find someone who is a good listener.

This could be your partner, your friend or a fellow student. You may also want to have a chat with your tutor, as they too have been in the same position. They may have pearls of wisdom and advice to impart.

FIVE – Change your outlook on stress

As we said at the start of the article, stress is not necessarily a bad thing.

Stress triggers a reaction within the body that causes us to either run away from the problem (flight) or stay and deal with it (fight).

If you want to gain a valuable qualification, flight isn’t an option. But when stress overwhelms you, it can be hard to stay and fight, simply because you don’t know how to fight against this particular challenge.

Understand how stress makes YOU feel – we all react differently to surges in stress. Do you find it difficult to sleep? Do you feel the quality of your work suffers?

We are also used to being told that stress is a negative thing. But, there are studies that show people who are exposed to positive messages about stress learn to deal with its effects much better.

Neuro-linguistic programming is about changing how we think and view certain things in life, stress being one of them. Why not take a look at how NLP can help you in your studies, as well as in life in general?

What tips could you offer fellow students for dealing with stress and their studies?

If stress is running out of control, no matter what the situation, it can be tough to remain calm and in control.

People face stressful situations every day, and yet don’t display any outward signs of being out of control or fearful. Stress happens. It is a fact of life, but how can you control it and make it work for you?

#1 Avoid caffeine, alcohol and nicotine

The things we consume impact on our physical and emotional health. Common crutches in stressful situations are cigarettes, coffee and a glass (or two) of wine.

But they could be making your stress problem much worse. Alcohol is a depressant, nicotine and caffeine are stimulants, waking up your system more than it needs to be – and the effect is only short term. As soon as it wears off, you may reach for another coffee…

Try cutting out or reducing the amount of caffeinated drinks you consume – caffeine isn’t just in coffee, it is in tea, hot chocolate and energy drinks, so check the label – cut down or stop smoking, and consider giving up alcohol too.

#2 Increase physical activityhelp man

The last thing you feel like doing when stressed is physical activity. You may want to pull the curtains closed and curl up on the sofa and try to forget about it all. But, evidence shows that just half an hour of physical activity, especially in fresh air, can lift us out of the depths of stress and despair.

A stress management course will often talk about the benefits of physical activity, with a brisk walk in the fresh air sometimes being enough to offer a different perspective.

#3 Get more sleep

Stress interrupts our sleep. And a lack of sleep causes stress. You can see the vicious circle that it could become.

This doesn’t mean relying on medication, although for some people this can be the first step in dealing with lack of sleep. Simple things – avoiding caffeine after a certain time in the afternoon, making time for physical activity, warm baths, quiet time before bed and so on – can all have a big impact on falling asleep and having a restful nights sleep when we do.

#4 Try relaxation techniques

A stress management course will also talk about relaxation techniques, a proven way for some people to deal with the symptoms of stress.

There are all kinds available – just take a look online – or consider taking part in yoga or meditation sessions.

#5 Start talking

We become stressed for all kinds of reasons. What can exacerbate it is when we shut down, assuming that no one else is interested or that there is no way that you can be helped.

Talking with friends is one thing, but seeking professional help is sometimes needed. Consider finding a local counsellor or use a telephone listening service such as Anxiety UK. Men find it difficult to talk, thinking that by admitting they struggle to cope that they are somehow weak and not manly enough. CALM is specifically for young men aged 15 to 35 and there is the Men’s Health Forum too.stressed man

#6 Keep a ‘stress diary’

Understanding when and possibly why you become stressed or anxious in some situations is important. This is why some people keep a stress diary. It can be handy to note down a particularly stressful episode, and how you reacted physically and emotionally. Be wary however that sometimes, stress just leaps up when you least expect it, so there may not be a pattern. You may identify common triggers that can be useful to discuss with a health professional.

#7 Take control

Stress is at its worse when you feel out of control, either physically or mentally (or both). Learning to take back control is an important step and one that is covered in a stress management course.

In fact, by being a student on such a course itself, you are beginning to take back control, learning new skills on how to handle stress in many different kinds of situations.

Not always a bad thing

Remember, some stress is good. It is the thing that drives you forward and through difficult times, whether that is a sleepless night before a major job interview or presentation, or the thing that gets you through your driving test.

But, when it grips you and you cannot explain why, when it means you avoid certain situations or people, it has gone from being a positive form of stress to being a negative one. Grasp it and meet it head on – and get help, if you need to.